Mail and package sorting and distributing device



y 1937- M. E. ROSS ET AL 2,079,385 MAIL AND PACKAGE SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1935 EIEIlI E INVENTORS M 1312055 H.211. YJYHHD.

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Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES crews MAIL AND PACKAGE SORTING AND DIS- TREUTING DEVICE Application November 6, 1935, Serial No. 48,593

2 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to im- "provements in mail and package sorting and distributing devices, and has particular reference to an improved portable package distributing device, capable of being utilized for handling, sorting, and storing mail, mail bags, packages or the like articles to be transported from place to Place.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a portable package or mail sorting and distributing device of the class described that embodies a plurality of sorting and distributing racks upon which mail or like packages may be placed, sorted and moved about the floor of any establishment and finally distributed to any carrier to which the load may be consigned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and easily portable device of the class designated that, due to its style of construction, eliminates rehandling of the packages or mail bags, thus saving time in the handling of such articles and also preventing breakage of the same.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable package sorting and distributing device that is especially suitable for use in stock rooms, store houses and like places where packages or mail is handled in large quantities.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a portable device of this character that may be utilized as a filing cabinet for various types of articles.

Supplementary to the foregoing objects is that of providing a portable device of the character set forth that embodies a plurality of diagonal- 1y disposed shelves or racks having means positioned thereon for holding the articles to be sorted and means for releasing said articles after they have been sorted and classified for delivery.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our improved device,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with portions broken away to disclose the construction of the portable frame, angularly disposed shelves and the means for actuating said shelves to release the packages or mail bags therefrom,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the construction of a section of the portable frame including one of the angularly disposed shelves or racks, the means for holding packages or bags thereon, and the means for simultaneously actuating said shelves or racks, the section being indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation illustrating the construction of one of said racks or shelves relative to the portable frame.

The invention as described resides primarily in a portable frame for handling packages or like articles and consists of a rectangular system of piping embodying upright frontal and rear standards 5 and 6, respectively, preferably constructed of a plurality of pipes and Ts as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2. This frame is mounted upon casters 7 so that the entire frame may be transported from place to place as a unit. This frame also includes a plurality of shelves or racks arranged diagonally, as shown in Fig. 2, and comprising flat plates 9 having frontal extensions l0 upon which indicia are placed to designate the articles upon the shelves of the device. These shelves extend diagonally from the front uprights to the rear uprights 6 and are connected to cross pieces H forming part of the frame.

The frontal pipe sections I2 of the frame are rotatable in the Ts l3 and said frontal pipe sections are provided with hook elements l4 so that said pipe sections may be rotated in said Ts l3 by means of a connecting rod as hereinafter set -forth.

The hook elements extend through the pipe sections l2 and are provided on their inner ends with spring clips l5, said clips l5 being adapted to retain mail bags or any other packages as hereintofore described.

It will thus be observed that mail packages or any other articles may be applied to the hooks l4 and to the spring clips [5, and that when mail bags or like articles are attached to said clips I 5 and the hooks I4 the hooks l 4 and clips l5 may be rotated, thus releasing packages or mail bags deposited upon the shelves or racks of the device.

The frontal pipes [22 of the device are actuated in unison by means of a connecting rod l6 and by means of actuating arms H, as clearly disclosed in Fig. 3.

The clips l5 hold the bags in place upon the racks for the reason that the Weight of the bags on the hooks id is overcome by the bar I6 mainly by the shelves 9 and would not therefore pull on the hooks M to any appreciable extent which are used mainly to hold the sacks open and in filling position.

In this manner it will be observed that any and. all packages or mail bags may be simultaneously released from the spring clips I5 and the hooks M, which clips are positioned or placed upon the shelves or racks 9 of the device due to the inclination of said racks or shelves in the frame.

It will further be observed that the hooks I4 may be utilized for the purpose of hanging mail bags, or the like, in position while being filled for filing upon the shelves or racks.

Now it will be noted that if bags or packages are positioned upon said racks or shelves 9\ and it is desired to transport these bags or packages from one place to the other in an establishment,

it is apparent that the same may be released by the actuation of the connecting rod l6 to cause the actuation or tilting of the hooks and clips relative to the shelves or racks, thereby allowing the mail bags or packages to slide from the shelves or racks as set forth.

It is to be understood that the form of our device herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of invention, we

7 ments carried by the frame and secured to said clips, and actuating means connected to all of said rotatable elements whereby said clips are simultaneously actuated to release the gripped articles on said racks.

2. In a device of the class described, a portable frame including a plurality of article sorting and classifying racks arranged diagonally therein, the frontal supports of said frame being rotatable relative to the racks and the rear sections of said frame being fixed to support the rear ends of the racks, article retaining clips carried by said frontal supports, means connected with said frontal supports tocause their simultaneous rotation to release articles from said clips, said means embodying operating arms connected tosaid rotatable elements, and an operating rod connecting all of said operating arms to cause their simultaneous actuation.

- MELVIN E. ROSS ALARIC L. MAYNARD. 

